This month marks the completion of my first year as ABDO president. It’s been a busy year, but one thing is clear: there’s still much I hope to see progress on, and potentially accomplish, before I pass the role on to vice president Brenda Rennie.
On 20 May, I will have the privilege of attending one of the key events of a president’s term – the ABDO Graduation and Prizegiving Ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral. I look forward to celebrating alongside newly-qualified dispensing opticians (DOs), their friends and families, as well as presenting awards and diplomas to those receiving higher qualifications. Graduation is always a special day, providing students and awardees the chance to celebrate their hard work and achievements with their loved ones.
I recently had the pleasure of joining in the celebration of 120 years of Optometry Ireland with colleagues from across the sector. It was insightful to hear about the challenges they face as they work to advance the use of their skills for the benefit of patients. I wish them all the best moving forward. During conversations with attendees, it became apparent that there is a growing need for more DOs in practice, bringing their expertise to help meet the demands of the sector.
As I’ve mentioned before, the ‘handover’ process in practice has been a little disappointing in my recent experience. In many cases, two professionals – an optometrist and a DO – work together in practice. The handover should be an opportunity for an expert in one field to seamlessly communicate important information to the other expert.
It’s essential that any discussions held during an eye examination are clearly passed on to the DO, ensuring the patient’s needs are properly addressed without the need for repetition. This not only enhances the patient experience but allows the DO to take appropriate action and offer solutions based on the initial findings.
I recently attended an in-person ABDO CPD event, in addition to gaining points through Dispensing Optics and online courses in these first months of 2025. While all options are valuable, the in-person event reminded me of the importance of real-time interaction with colleagues in the room, as well as the conversations before and after the session. This face-to-face engagement is crucial, and I plan to attend more events in 2025, though always with consideration for the impact on other members needing to attend.
Finally, please do take the time to download the full report of the recent Mumsnet survey commissioned by ABDO, the College of Optometrists and the Optical Suppliers Association, and review your current paediatric eyecare offering.
I look forward to meeting members in 2025 at optical events and regional ABDO events.
If you would like to contact me, then please drop me an email at kgutsell@abdo.org.uk